Section 68B-31.0066 - Landing and Transport Requirements; Live Well and Storage Requirements(1) Live Bait Shrimp Producers.(a) Landing and Transport Requirements -1. A live bait shrimp producer must constantly maintain any shrimp harvested as live bait in wet live storage condition to minimize mortality.2. All such shrimp harvested shall be directly and expeditiously transported from the harvesting vessel to the onshore facilities on the premises of a licensed saltwater products dealer. The dealer's facilities shall be outfitted appropriately with equipment functioning to maintain the quality of shrimp delivered in a live, healthy condition.3. Shrimp so delivered shall be placed in a tank of clean saline, aerated water at that facility and shall be maintained alive throughout all handling and storage processes. Equipment to maintain live bait shrimp during harvest pursuant to this Chapter and during subsequent transport and storage shall, at a minimum, meet the requirements of paragraph (b).4. Each person harvesting shrimp in or from Florida Waters as a live bait shrimp producer shall land such shrimp from the harvesting vessel. The transfer of such shrimp to another vessel while in or on Florida Waters is prohibited.(b) Live Well Requirements. 1. Vessel requirements - Each vessel operated by a live bait shrimp producer that is engaged in the harvest of live bait shrimp in or on Florida Waters must be equipped with a watertight tank containing a minimum of 16 cubic feet of continuously aerated saline water during such harvest and during the transport of any live bait shrimp.2. Vehicle Requirements - Each vehicle used to transport live bait shrimp harvested by a live bait shrimp producer must be equipped with a watertight tank containing a minimum of 32 cubic feet of continuously aerated saline water during the transport and holding of such live bait shrimp on the vehicle.(c) Storage Requirements - Each facility used to store live bait shrimp harvested by a live bait shrimp producer, on the premises of a licensed wholesale or retail saltwater products dealer, must be equipped with a watertight tank containing a minimum of 32 cubic feet of continuously aerated saline water during the storage of such live bait shrimp.(2) Food Shrimp Producers - Transport and live well requirements for live food shrimp. (a) Live shrimp harvested for the purpose of being delivered and sold alive as food for human consumption are not subject to the icing or refrigeration requirements in subsection 68E-27.022(5), F.A.C. This provision shall not be construed to exempt dead shrimp from the requirements in subsection 68E-27.022(5), F.A.C.(b) Shrimp harvested for sale alive as food pursuant to this Chapter must be constantly maintained in wet live storage condition to minimize mortality. All such shrimp harvested by a food shrimp producer must be expeditiously transported from the harvesting vessel to onshore facilities on the premises of a licensed saltwater products dealer. The dealer's facilities shall be outfitted appropriately with equipment functioning to maintain the quality of shrimp delivered in a live, healthy condition. Shrimp so delivered must be placed in a tank of clean, continuously aerated saline water at that facility and shall be maintained alive throughout all handling and storage processes. Equipment to maintain live food shrimp during harvest pursuant to this Chapter and during subsequent transport and storage must, at a minimum, meet the following requirements: 1. Vessel live well requirements - Each vessel engaged in the harvest of shrimp for sale alive as food pursuant to this Chapter must be equipped with a watertight tank containing a minimum of 16 cubic feet of continuously aerated saline water during such harvest and during transport of any live food shrimp.2. Vehicle live well requirements - Each vehicle used to transport shrimp from the harvesting vessel to a facility operated by a licensed saltwater products dealer for sale alive as food harvested pursuant to this Chapter must be equipped with a watertight tank containing a minimum of 32 cubic feet of continuously aerated saline water during transport and holding in the vehicle.Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 68B-31.0066
Rulemaking Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. Law Implemented Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const.
Adopted by Florida Register Volume 50, Number 173, September 4, 2024 effective 9/19/2024.